Spring draft gear



c. H. ToMLlNsoN SPRING DRAFT GEAR Filed May 15; 1925 Oct, 1 1 1927.

' a spring draf A line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.'

UNITED STATES 1,645,361 PATENT ori-1112s.

' CHARM-is 1I. irourmson,

OF HANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TEE TOHJINSON COUPLEB COMPANY, 0F HANSFIELD, OHIO,

A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

srame Daarreaaa.

Appiieation med nay 1a, 1925. .semi no. 29,953.

My invention relates to a coupling mechanism for cars and has particular reference to the draft gear which isinterposed between the coupler proper and the anchor age for securingthe coupler to a car.

The object of my invention is to provide t gear in which a builing spring is employed and to provide a construction in which the moving parts may be lubricated and in which the lubrication may be maintained.

It has been customary in the past to employ spring draft gears, but no attempt has been made to produce a spring draft` gear in which the construction will permit of the lubrication of the various moving parts and the result is that these moving parts, which are subjected to constant and extreme wear when the device is -in use, deteriorate rapidl Fly invention resides in Athe new and novel construction, combination and relation of the various parts hereinafter described and disclosed in the drawing accompanying this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a combined draft gear and coupler head and anchorage shown in partial section. i

Fig. 2 1s a side combined coupler head draft gear and anchorage in partial section and shown as secured to the under-sills of a car body.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view' taken on the Fig. 4 is a face view of the collars 21 and 24.

In the preferred embodiment of my 1nvention I employ an anchorage ca stmg to be secured to the under-sills 1 of a car body and this anchorage system com rises a rectangular shaped flange 2 whic is secured to the sills by means of bolts or rivets 3. Secured to the flange casting by means of the neck member 4 is a ball member 5 provided with a chamber 6 therein. The neck 4 is hollow and has an opening therethrough 7 by means of which oil orother lubricating material may be supplied to the chamber 6.

Mounted upon the ball member 5 is a socket member 8 adapted to fit the ball member substantially one-half ofthe exterior surfaceof the ball 5. Cooperating with the socket member 8 is a cap member 9 which'also is recessed to fit the outer sur- 5 and covering view in elevation of a' face'ofl the ball member 5 and covers about the same amount of surface of the ball as the member 8. The members 8 and 9 are secured together by means of the bolts and nuts 10 which engage with the lugs 11 on the members 8 and 9 are constructed with a lap )oint 13 which is made a reasonably tight fit to prevent leakage of the oil 'which is interposed between the surfaces of the members 5, 8 and 9. The .socket member 8 is provided .with a stem 14 lwhich projects for 'member 8, and 12 on the member 9. The.

a considerable distance from the member 8 and is provided with a central opening 15 which cooperates' with an opening16 in the ball member 5.

The inner end of the stem 14 is counterbored and threaded as shown at 17 and into the threaded counter-bore is threaded a supplement-ary stem 18 and which is also rovided wit-h a threaded end 19. The en of the stem 14 provides a shoulder 20 against which butts a collar 21 slidably mounted upon the supplementary stem 18. To the end 19 of the stem 18 is secured a threaded collar 22 which provides a shoulder 23 and against which butts the collar 24 which is slidably mounted upon the stem 18.v Positioned between the collars 21 and 24 is a draft spring 25 which surrounds the stem 18 and which 4tends to move the collars 21 and 24 against their respective abutments or shoulders- 20 and 23 respectively.` The spring 25 may be of the ordinary helical coil type or of the friction type or of any other type found suitable for the urpose `and of proper capacity. Through t e sup-4 dated -April 28, 1914. The detailed con.

struction of the coupler head 29 does not constitute a part of my present. invention. `The coupler head is mounted at the end of vthe draft gear housing 30." `The draft gear housing comprises 'a barrel formation 31 yhaving the end opposite to the` coupler head 29v internally threaded to receive a threaded bushing 32. The bushing 32 is counter-bored to form a recess therein and within .which isn placed a yielding packing materlal 33 which engages and surrounds the stem 14 mounted within the housing 30, A packing gland 34 is provided for ad]ust1ng the pressuref the packing 33 with respect to' the stem 14 and this adjustment is brought about through the medium of the cap screws 35 which engage lugs 36 on the barrel 31 and lugs 37 on the packing gland 34,

When the stems and draft spring are mounted within the housing in proper relation the collar 21 will butt against the 1nner end of the bushing. 32, which forms the shoulder 38, and the collar 24 will butt against the shoulder 39 formed within the housing 30 due to the formlng of the chambers and 41 which are of' different diameters. i

The assembled' device is of such construction that the housing 30 forms a closed receptacle for the stems 14 and 18 and th draft spring 25.

The operation of the device thus far de scribed is believed to be uite unnecessary to any length as the operatlon will be evident to those skilled in the art. In general when two cars are brou ht together, equipped with the invention, the impact will .move the coupler heads toward their' respective anchorages and this in turn will compress the draft spring fory the reason that the shoulder l39 ywill move toward the anchorage and the collar 24 will also move in that direction thereby compressing the draft spring 25 for the reason that the collar 21 batting against the shoulder 20, is immovable. If the direction of movement of the coupler head on two coupled cars should be away from the anchorage then the housing, together with the bushing 32, would move in a direction away from the anchorage and lwith them would move the collar 21 which butts against the shoulder 38 thereby compressing the spring 25 for thereason that the collar 241s `immovable as it will butt against the shoulder 23 under the operating conditions just described.

I have found that on ,the ordinary type of draft gears, as already stated, there is a great deal of wear due to the severe operating conditions and this wear extends also to the connection between the draft gear and the anchorage, therefore,y I have provided means' for lubricating'the various movmg parts. This I do by illinr the chamber 6 within the anchorage member 5 witha lu bricating material which may be deposited through the opening 7. It will be evident that 1f lubricating material is positioned within the chamber 6 to a height corresponding with the opening 16 or higher, that it-will flow through the opening 16,` the channels 15 and 26 and into the chamber 41 and from there into the chamber 40, and the height, of the lubricating material in the chambers 40 and 41 will correspond with the height of the lubricating material in the chamber 6. This lubricating ma- Aterial will tend to maintain the moving parts within the chambers 40 .and 41 thoroughly lubricated even though the lubricating material may not entirelyfill these chambers for the reason that the material will flow over the surface of the parts through capillary attraction, and the material will also be splashed around within the chambers 40 and 41 due to the motion of the cars and the sudden movements of the draft gear parts.

The packing material 33 forms a very important function besides that ofpreventing leakage of the lubricating materialv around the stem 14. It will be noted that the acking material 33 forms a very long bearing and thisis purposely so as it forms lthe main support and guide mechanically between the stem 14 and the housing 30, and the packing material 33 being of a soft and yielding nature such as braided asbestos or hemp, or leather, or other suitable materials, prevents wear between the moving parts and in order to bring the lubricating material within-the housing into the contact withthe packing material, I may provideone or more transverse channels 42 leading from the channel 15 to the surface of the stem 14 in engagement with the packing 33. It will be evident that there will be less wear to the stem 14 in contact with the packingv material 33 than there would be if there was substituted for the packing material a metal surface. If itis desired to fill the receptacles 40 and 41 full of the lubricating material, this is possible from the construcltion as the passage 7, it will be noted, is

above the chamber 40, butV if the chambers 40 and 41 are filled with lubricating material there is some possibility of a resistance tc the anovement of the parts due to the stemV being trapped within the chambers 40 and 41 to a considerable extent, therefore, I provide-the collars 21 and 24 with transverse slots 43 which permit the collars to move back and forth freely and the oil to pass through the openings 43 so as to relieve any tendenc for pressure from the lubricating materia, and the passages 15, 16 and 26.

at the height to which the lubricating material is desired and this hole may be placed any place convenient and where it'will perfunction, as for instance, the hole form lts l 44, and in which there may be placed, 1f desired, a plug 45 and the hole 44 may be used as a filling hole in place of the passage 7 if desired, by removing the plug 45.

I find that the use of a lubricating material within a draft gear will tend to reduce I believe that my 'invention as disclosed offers a new and novel construction and in which many of the diiiiculties, now encountered with-draft gears, especially that of wear and -tear in the various moving parts,` a more quietly working draft gear,.wh1ch is a valuable feature, especially when used.

onV passenger coaches and one in which the possibility of sticking is eliminated. Y It will also be noted that I have `provided a substantially universal movement between the draft gear and*` the `anchoragebycmploying a b all and socket connection between these parts and this is of especial advantage in connection with couplers used upon electrically operated cars which are operated over tracks havingsharp curves and also sharp breaks in grade thereby requiring' substantiall universal movement between the coupler ead and the draft gear and the anchorage member, and this universal movelment may be found to be of value in connection with steam operated lines or electrified steam roads where the breaks in grade or curves .are sharp. The lubricating feature between'the vmoving parts of the'vball and socket anchorage is of importance as there is constant, movement and wear be-- tween these parts under operation and lubri-' cation will substantially eliminate this wearv thereby increasingl the life of thesey arts and maintaining a reasonably tight t which will, therefore, eliminate knocking between these parts :with the surging of the cars. In order toprevent to a large extent leakage of the lubricant around =the lap joint 13, I apply a filling material, such as thick white' lead, to the surfaces ofrthe joint before assembly.

The t readed connection between the parts 19 and 22 permits one to place any reasonable tension upon the spring 25 desired at the time of assembly and adjustment of -such tension after service and providing the spring 25 should take .a set after service. The threaded relation of the sleeve 32 and barrel 31 permits taking up any play between the washers 21 and 29 and shoulders i 38 and 39 when newly assembling and also permits taking up any'lost motionl between such 'parts which may develop after'service.

When a friction spring 25 is used the wear and tear upon the spring is great due to the 'surfaces working together while dry, but

reatery andA when lubricated their life is there is not the tendency to st1ck.. Such loss of friction as may result from the use-of- Vlubrication may be compensated lfor by the use of a higher capacity spr-ing.

There will be modifications to the disclo-v sure herein made which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, but I do not wish to be limited other than by my claims.

. v 1. A draft gear comprising a housing and a stem in telscopic relation, means on the housing and on thestem engaging a spring within the housing to interlock the housing and the stem and yieldingly hold them in a.

predetermined relation, permitting longitudinal movement ofthe housing and stem in either direction and simultaneously com# pressing the spring, means to be secured-"to body andrtov thestem and permitting a car universal movement of tl1e\stem relative to the car body andl a communicating passage through the stem to the interior of the housing. v

from the last said means 2. A coupler anchorage comprising a supporting member to be attached to a car and aving ,aball at' one end rovided with a spherical surface, a socket orming a receptacle with an opening through which passes a neck connecting the support and ball and secured to the ball and arranged-to permit freedom 'of movement of the socket relative -to'the ball, a. housing,l a stem projecting from thev socket and positioned within the housing, a s ring member interlocking the housing an stem to compel compression of the sprlng when the housing and stem moverelative to each other in either of two longi- 'tudilfal Ydirections .and a passage through the stem communicating with the interior of the housing and the interior of thel socket.

3. A draft gear comprising a housing, spaced shoulders formed within the housing,

a collar engaging eachv shoulder, a spring 1 its interposed between the collars and tending 'i vto-move them into and normally hold them in engagement withtheir res ective shoulders, a stem mounted within 'tlie housingin telescopic relation to the parts, hollow means on the stem to secure the gear to a support, al passage through the stem and communicating with the interior of the hollow meansv and the housing and shoulders on the stem to alternately engage the collarsl dependingA upon the direction of relative movement of the stem and housing and to cause an i ncreased compression upon the spring.

4. A draft gear comprising a housing,

spaced shoulders formed within the housing, `within the housing, a collar engaging each a stem mounted in telescopic relation to and Shoulder', a spring interposed between th within the housing and having spaced collars and tending to move them into and shoulders thereon conforming substantially normally hold them in engagement with with the spaced shoulders on the housing, tneir respectiveshoulders, a stem telescopicollars slidably mounted on the stem to eiically mounted inthe open end of the housgage the shoulders on the housing and on the ing, a sleeve surrounding the stem and interstem, a draft spring loosely positioned on posed between the stem and housing and one the stem between the collars and normally end forming one of the shoulders, means to holdingithe collars in engagement with their adjust the sleeve longitudinally of the housrespectve Shgulderg on the housing and 1I1g' t0 Sleeve lll the adjusted adapted to be further compressed with the posltlon and paoklng material interposed berelative movement of the housing and the tween the stem and sleeve to reduce wear of stem in either' direction anda yielding mathe PartS- terial interposed betwen the stem and hous- 8. A draft gear Comprising an enclosin ing at the outer end of the housing to supmmber and a telescopio member positione port the housing on the stem 'and to prevent within the enclosing member for relative wear of the moving parts, longitudinal ymovement, a spring inter-lock- 5. A draft gear comprising a housing lng the members yin a predetermined posiadapted to contain a lubricating material, tion but permitting relative longitudinal 'spaced shoulders formed withinthe housing, movement in either direction, means ata stem mounted in telescopic relation to andV taohed t0 011 0f ,the members` to SeCllIe the within the housing and having spaced' gear to an anchorage, the said means having shoulders thereon conforming substantially a spherical surface to engage a spherical surwith the spaced shoulders on the housing, face on the anchorage `to permit relative collars slidably mounted on the stem to en-4 movement between the gear and anchorage gage the shoulders on the housing and on the- 1n` all directions and means of communicastem, a draft spring loosely'positioned on tion between the interior of the enclosing the stem between the collars and normally member and the said spherical surfaces to holding the collars in engagement with their conduct a lubricating material from the inrespective shoulders on the housing and to terior of the enclosing member to the spherbe further compressed with the relative lcal surfaces.

movement of the housing and the stein in 9. Aldraft gear comprising an enclosing either direction, and ayielding material inmember, a telescopic member positioned terposed between the stemand housing at the Within the enclosing member, means to sev,outer end of the housing to' support the houscure one of the members -to an anchorage, a.

ing on the stem and to prevent wear of the spring within the enclosing member to yieldmoving parts and leakage of the -lubricating mgl lock and maintam the members in 'a material,- pre etermincd position, a receptacle having 6.` A draft gear comprising a housing, a communicating passage with the interior spaced shoulders formed within thel housing; of the enclosing member arranged to act as a collar engaging each shoulder-,i a stem' an expansion .tank to prevent the pressure mounted in telescopic relation to and within of a fluid which may be contained within the housing and having spaced shoulders the enclosing member. thereon conforming substantially with the 10. ,A draft gear comprising an enclosing spaced shoulders on the housing, collars slidmember, a telescopic member positione ably" mounted on the stem to engage the within the enclosing member and movablel shoulders on the housing and on the stem, a longitudinally y thereto in either direction, a

, draft spring positioned on the stem between single friction spring interlocking the mem- 'tne collars andfnormally holding the collars bers a predetermined normal position in engagement with their respective shoulcomprisingan inner and an outer helically ders onl the housing and to be further comwound spring and having surfaces which vpressedwith the relative 'movement ofthe rub together with increasing pressure and housing and the stein in either direction, an \friction as the'r spring is compressed with anchoragememberto be secured to a'car and the movement of the members in either di- -having a ball terminal with-a.v chamber thererection and means to lubricate the friction in, means on the end of the stem to engage surfaces of the spring.

theball member. and permit relative move- 11. A draft gear comprising an enclosin ment in` all directions, a assage through the member, a telescopic member positione stem communicating wit theinterior of the within the enclosing member and movable housing and a passage in the ball member longitudinally thereto, a spring' mounted on -communi` ,atin, with the chamber in the ball the inner or telescopic member yand held in and with the passage in the stem. 7. A draft gear comprising la housing, scopicmember whose distance'apart is ad-` 'closed at one end, lspaced shoulders formed justable, and other spacedmeans within the position thereon by spaced means on the telebetween the cap late to be secured to a car enclosing member and whose distance a is adjustable and engageable by .the rst spaced means to hold the members normally in a predetermined position.

12. A .draft gear Jcomprising an enclosing member, a telescopic member positioned within the enclosing member and movable longitudinallythereto, a spring mounted on the inner or telescopic member and held in position thereon by spaced means on the telescopic member and other spaced means within the enclosing member whose distance apart is adjustable and engageable by the first spaced means to hold the members normally in a'prede-termined position. 13. A coupler anchorage comprising a body, a projection aving an exterior spherical surface, a twoart cap surrounding the projection and 'av'ing an` interior spherical surface to engage thaton the projection and also adapted to be attached to a draft gear, a lap joint parts, means to move the parts intoand hold them in. engagement with the project-ion, means between the surfaces of the vlap joint to prevent leakage'of a scopic members one member forming an enwith the spherical lubricant tothe a receptacle for oil means communicating surfaces for supplying a engaging spherical surfaces,

oiland means to conduct the oil from the receptacle to the communicating means.

14. A draft gear comprising a pair of teleclosure containing a liquid, yielding means interposed between the membersto yieldingly hold them in a predetermined position plate-.to secure to a car body,

and means to prevent raising the normal pressure 'of said liquid when the members move relative to each other in a longitudinal direction. v ,j

15. A draft gear comprising a pair-of telescopic members ymovable relative to each other, coupler head, means on the other member to attach to' a car anchorageand havinga uni- `versal movement therewith,yieldin means.

to normally hold the telescopicmem r in a predeterminedv relative relation, thecar anchorage -provided with achambered spherical member, the second said means comprising an enclosing megnber having a `surface corresponding spherical surface and means to conduct lubricating material fromy the said chamber to said spherical surface.

16 A lcoupler Yanchorage comprising ya a projection having anexterior spherical surface and a receptacle formed within the projection, communicating means 'from the receptacle to the exterior surface of the projection, a two-part cap surrounding the pro`ection and having-an interior spherical sur ace to engage that on the projection and also dprovided with means to .attach it to a raft the 'telescopic means O11 0116 member t0 Ieelve' a, CM.`-

within the enclosing with and .engaging the said 'p art gear, a lap joint between the1 cap parts and j material, "attaching means to ysecure the members to a car body, Ithe attaching means having la receptacle for a lubricating material, means on one of the members secured to the attaching meansin universal movable relation thereto; spring means to-yieldingly hold the members in a predetermined posi- 'tion relative to leach other one of the telescopic members provided with a bore forming a conduit between the receptacles to form therewith a lubricating `system to lsupply Alubrication to the .above relatively movable parts. j

18.A draft gear comprising an enclosing member to contain a iiuid, a telescopic member positioned within the enclosing member, means to secure one of the members to an anchorage provided with a liquid retaining receptacle and a Communicating passage from the receptacle to the engaging surfaces of the anchorageto the said member, means to secure'the other member to a coupler head, a single spring within the enclosing member to yieldingly lock and maintain the members in a predetermined position and arranged to be compressed when the telescopiczmember moves in either direction relative to the enclosing member, a receptacle to actas an expansion tank to prevent pressure of the Huid material within the enclosing member,

member provided with a passage connecting the receptacle and the en- `closing member. i

19. A draft gearadapted to be secured to a car body and having universal movement relative thereto comprising an enclosing l' a telescopic member positione member and movable longitudinally theretoin either direction, a single spring yielding members in a predetermined'normal position. and compressible whenever there .is longitudinal movement ofthe `members in either direction and acting to.4 return the arts to their normal position, an anchorage ecured to the car ody and having an member,

lenlarged portion with av spherical surface anda cup-shaped enlargement on one end o f the telescopic'member andhavmg as pherical surface to engage and cooperate with the spherical surface on the anchorage to-'secure the telescopic member to the anchorage and movement of' the draft.

,permit universal earrelative to the anchorage and to the car ody.

20; The an anchorage secured to the body, a hollow projection on the anchorage vforming a recepsof ly` interlocking the com ination with a car body ofv i tacle 'for a liquid and having a spherical outer surface, a laterally projecting member 'having'a cup-shaped member at one end lon 'tudinally 'with fa `spherical inner surface coinciding with that on the anchorage tov enga e an cooperate with 'said surface on the anc orage yto hold. thelaterally projecting member to said 'anchorage in unlversal movable relation thereto,l an enclosin member on the laterally projecting mem er and movable .thereto ,in a substantially horizontal direction and means Withinthe enclosingmember to ieldingly interlock the i enclosing andlatera 1y pro ecting members together but permit relative longitudinal movement of the said members 1n either direction. y

21. AV connection `for a car coupler to a carl body comprising an anchorage to be' secured toa car body, a'hollow projection on the anchorage adapted to retain a lubrication and having an outer s herica] surface of greater area than that o a semi-sphere,

a cup-shaped member havin an interior surface conforming to that 4o the spherical l 22. A connection for a ear coupler to permit universal movement relative to the car body comprising an anchorage with means to secure it to a carbody, a projection on the anchorage havin a spherical surface and a recess within t e projection adapted to retain a liquid lubricant, means of access to the recess and access from the recess to the spherical surface; a cup-shaped member formed in two arts to lengagelthe projection on the anc orage and having surfaces conforming to the spherical surface on the projection; means to hold the two parts in cooperative .relation to the projection and means to yieldingly connect the car coupler to the'said cup-shaped member.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

#CHARLES H. TOMLINSON. 

